Older dog incontinence

[StaffieLove]

Hi everyone, just looking for some advice around incontinence issues in senior dogs.

My girls situation is a bit unique due to her background - as a pup she was horrifically abused. Xrays showed multiple broken bones and she had been left chained in a yard for so long that her bones had healed wonky - to re break and pin all the bones so they would heal correctly would have cost thousands, and the vet said that she was in no pain, but that she probably wouldn't live to an old age. She's had a good life since, loves cuddles, most laid back friendly dog I've ever met .

She's now coming up 9 and is starting to leak urine, her bed is wet most mornings, not saturated, just a small patch. She also leaves a small puddle whenever she sits. The vet says this is likely due to a combination of old age and damage to her pelvis when she was a pup and that there's not much we can do.

My issue here (thanks for reading this far!), is that she is an inside dog and I have a crawling baby. Its not right to have puddles of dog wee all over the carpet, but she is a staffie who needs to be with her people - she adores the children and cries if left outside, or put in another room.

Has anyone here got any advice on how best to manage her leaking? The vet suggested nappies but that seems extreme, and I think she would chew them off.

Yes, nappies.

I am surprised your vet says there is nothing you can do.

Leaking in urine in older bitches is pretty common and there is medication you can try which is not too expensive and other treatments that can be tried before giving up.

I would speak to a different vet.

I know of a dog - possibly part staffie - that has been mildly incontinent in her old age. It's might a management issue. Take her out more frequently so her bladder doesn't get as full. You need to adjust to a more frequent pee break schedule with her.

My 3 year old dog has spay incontinence and we’re currently trying bladder supplements (you can get them on Amazon, they’re not expensive) and the vet said if they don’t work then there’s a hormonal medication the vet can give them so there are definitely options out there. I would get a second opinion

The vet says because her pelvis and hips were broken amd healed badly as a pup the issues stem from that, not from hormones. We live in a warm country so the doors are always open during the day so its not a matter of giving her more Toilet breaks - she doesn't even realise she's leaking. Even when we go for walks, she'll often stop to pee normally, then continue leaking as she walks on, oblivious to it.

We knew she would have problems when she got older, due to her abuse as a pup, but I thought it would be along the lines of arthritis, so am not prepared for incontinence.

If it was due to her bones wouldn't she have leaked as a pup ? The issue would have been there from the start wouldn't it?

How can anyone be cruel to animals, I'd happily do the same to them.

Might be worth trying this?
www.csjk9.com/productcart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=50

My old man is the same, doesn't realise he's weeing, will just be laying in his bed and suddenly start weeing.

The answer is nappies, he hated them initially, but is now used to it.

Have you tried Propalin? It’s very effective for spay incontinence. I appreciate that isn’t the cause here but, given she’s been dry up til now, then worth a try?

@whiskyremorse Thank you for the links, I'll check them out.

@userxx , its just unbelievable the cruelty humans can inflict on a wee pup. She's always had a bit of a damp bed in the morning, but I would always just put a towel on top of the bed and replace it with a fresh towel each morning. But now the towel is completely soaked each morning and her bed undeneath is getting rank, despite frequent washing. We got her when she was about 3 and the mild dampness in the morning was manageable. But I'm not sure our carpets can survive where she is at now. I guess we can always remove the carpets, polished floorboards would be easier to keep clean.

Oh! I just had a thought - would puppy pee training pads work for on her bed? It wouldn't save the carpets, but it could make her bed drier at night?

Hi K9 beds are good for incontinent dogs.

If you get the mesh bed you can either put a puppy pad between the mesh lining so the dog stays dry and then remove pad. Very easy to hose bed and it dries in seconds.

Or if your dog likes a nice soft topper put a topper (the sell them) on the bed and then put the pad under the topper. The wee goes onto the pad, dog stays nice and dry and again easy to wash and clean.

HI k9 Beds

It's well worth trying one of the medications such as propel in or incur in as hormonal issues may be exacerbating the problem and it might make it more manageable.
Also your vet needs to actually check the urine , is it concentrated properly, is there an infection going on ?
Just saying oh it's old damage and nothing will help seems a bit lax !

Bloody spell check
Propalin or incurin

she doesn't even realise she's leaking.
Yes, the dog I know who does this also isn't actively peeing and doesn't realise she's leaking, so she has to be taken out more frequently - even when she has free access to outdoor.

My old boy was like this but Propalin doesn't work in male dogs. I got him knickers from Amazon and the biggest incontinence pads in Lidl.